Guyot

The importance of the Guyot Trellis system in Calfornia

This trellis is widely used in Bordeaux and California, especially in low-yielding vineyards. Many of the best red Bordeaux wines and Napa Valley Cabs are produced with grapes grown on Guyot trellises.

The Guyot Simply involves training a single, vertically grown cane to a horizontal position after the previous year’s harvest is complete. The other vertically grown canes are pruned.

The vineyard manager is able to control the number of buds on the newly trained, horizontal cane. The Guyot Double trellis system is the same as the Guyot Simple, except that two vertical canes from the previous year are trained horizontally in either direction.

Each year, the roots are trained vertically with wires above the cane(s). The trellis divides the canopy and grape clusters hang below. They receive good good sun and wind exposure. The vineyard manager has a lot of control over controlling yields and canopy and optimizing sun exposure with Guyot trellises.